الدراسات الاجتماعية للأطفال

What's better than the school year drawing to a close? How about a National Donut Day, which believe it or not, happens to be tomorrow, Friday, June 5th! Given that the only way to celebrate this all-important occasion is to eat donuts, you really have no choice but to devour one (or even a dozen) of the gooey treats....

While e-books are on the rise, most people, especially young kids, still prefer printed versions that they can pore over for hours on end. Though that is an excellent habit, it also means cutting down precious trees. But what if the book could revert to its roots and transform back into a tree? Now thanks to a Brazilian children's book publisher, that is possible, at least for one book!...

Texas, the second most populous U.S. state and India's capital Delhi may lie in two different continents and over 8,300 miles apart. But over the past few weeks, both have made headlines for the same reason - extreme weather. The only difference is that while Texas is being inundated with torrential rains, Delhi has been experiencing a heat wave so severe that it is melting the roads....

One of the first signs visitors encounter at most museums is, "Please do not touch the exhibits." However at the new "Hoy toca el Prado" (Come touch the Prado) exhibition at Madrid's Museo Nacional Del Prado, the officials don't just encourage the habit, they insist upon it. That's because this unique art display has been specially created to enable visually impaired patrons to experience the joy of the works of some of the world's most famous artists, just like non-disabled people can....

Memorial Day, a Federal US holiday that is observed annually on the last Monday of May signifies different things to different people. For some it's a reminder to firm up summer vacation plans, for others it's an excuse to lounge around the pool with friends. Then there are the shoppers who believe the day is all about hitting the malls for bargains. What often gets forgotten is the real purpose of the holiday - to honor and remember the brave men and women of the United States Armed Forces that sacrificed their lives to defend our right to freedom....

It was a chilly and gloomy Sunday morning. But that did not prevent thousands of Bay Area residents from making their way to San Francisco's beautiful waterfront to participate in the city's oldest and most iconic footrace - Bay to Breakers. Now in its 104th year, the 12 Km (7.45 mile) competition that spans across the city may not be the world's hardest or longest race. But it is the most fun!...

When researchers from the University of Manchester and Manchester Museum decided to take a peek inside some ancient Egyptian animal mummies using CT scans they expected to discover perfectly preserved remains. To their surprise, only one-third of the 800 specimens they examined actually contained complete skeletons. The rest housed partial animal remains, or even worse, just some mud, sticks, and eggshells....

If there were a prize for the best boss in the world, it would be awarded to Li Jinyuan, the Chairman of China's Tiens Group Company. For how else can you acknowledge a leader who celebrates the company's 20th anniversary by treating 6,400 employees to an all-expenses paid trip to France?...

How often have you walked out from your favorite store with a great sense of accomplishment for snagging an incredible pair of jeans or a gorgeous dress for next to "nothing?" However, would you feel as smug if you knew that the person who made it works in an unsafe environment and gets paid next to "nothing?" This was what the folks at advocacy group Fashion Revolution recently decided to put to test in Berlin, Germany....

On November 24th, 2014, Samantha Cristoforetti became the first Italian woman astronaut to enter outer space. On May 3rd, the 38-year-old made history again - this time for brewing the first cup of espresso at the International Space Station! Prior to this, astronauts were resigned to getting their caffeine rush from instant coffee slurped from a pouch through a straw....

If you make a list of the world's top ten most challenging jobs, chances are that being a teacher will not make the cut. But think about the daunting task millions of educators face each day as they try to mold a group of often surly, unruly kids into intelligent, well-rounded individuals. That surely has to be the toughest job in the world, especially given that there is no promotion or bonus awaiting them even if they are wildly successful!...

As gaming moves from just a casual pastime to becoming a more significant part of our lives, researchers are getting increasingly curious to find out how it affects learning. A 2011 Michigan study indicated that playing video games sparks imagination and fosters creativity. A more recent study concluded that gamers have better visual skills and other cognitive abilities. Now there is some evidence that gaming not only augments visual skills, but also, helps speed up the learning process....

On Sunday May 10th, the approximately 85 million moms that reside in the United States will celebrate Mother's Day. This means a one-day role reversal, where moms get to enjoy all the things kids take for granted - like sleeping in and getting fed. While the special woman in your life is bound to be grateful for making her day special, so will the officials of the United States....

At first sight, Elana Schlenker's pop-up store, Less Than 100, which was open in Pittsburgh during the month of April appeared just like any other gift store. However, when shoppers went to pay, they were in for a surprise. That's because while men paid full price, women received a 24% discount....

In this era when baseball fans flock to cheer their favorite players even during spring training, April 29th's game between the Baltimore Orioles and Chicago White Sox was a little unusual. That's because for the first time in the history of the four major American professional sports leagues the game was played in an intentionally empty stadium....

The day began like any other. Muharrem, a hearing-impaired young man and his sister, who reside in Istanbul's Bağcılar neighborhood, headed out to complete some chores. Along the way, Muharrem noticed a strange phenomenon. Everyone, from the pedestrian that accidently bumped into him, to the person who sold him bagels, to even the taxi driver, communicated with him using sign language....

On Saturday April, 25th, a little before noon local time, the tiny landlocked country of Nepal was jolted by a massive earthquake. The 7.8 magnitude tremor that was felt across four countries and affected over 6.6 million people, is the most powerful one the country has experienced in over eight decades. Not surprisingly, it has resulted in a large number of deaths and extensive property damage....

On April 22, 1970, twenty million people across the United States took to the streets to ask government officials to take preventive measures to protect the environment. Today, it is a global movement that is observed by billions of people and celebrated with rallies, environmental clean-up events and pledges to undertake "green" initiatives to help the planet....

Dropped a chip or cookie on the pavement? Don't bother picking it up especially if you live in an urban area like Manhattan. That's because according to a team of researchers led by North Carolina State University's Clint Penick, some industrious ants will soon carry it away. For believe it or not, many city ants have come to love junk food almost as much as humans do!...

On Thursday, April 2nd, the world rejoiced at the news that Iran had reached a tentative agreement with United States and five other world powers to limit its nuclear program. The landmark deal that was announced from Lausanne, Switzerland has been in the works for over two years....

Brace yourselves - It's almost April 1st, the one day of the year when pulling a light-hearted prank is not frowned upon. Also known as April Fool's Day, the origins of this fun tradition are a little sketchy. Some believe that the light-hearted fun began in 1852 when the world transitioned from the Julian calendar (which began the New Year in April) to today's Gregorian calendar. Others think it was to celebrate the change of seasons....

The Nordic country of Finland has always been at the forefront of education reform. Finnish students don't have to worry about being tardy, homework or standardized tests. They get a 15-minute recess every hour and attend school fewer days than kids in most developed nations (not America). Since February 2015, students have not even had to learn cursive handwriting....

Today the world will celebrate Earth Hour. This means that millions of people across twenty-four time zones and six continents will switch off all lights and turn off all electronics for an hour, from 8.30-9.30 pm local time. While it may seem trivial, this small action will make more than a symbolic difference in our battle against climate change....

On Friday March 27th, five-year-old Seth Lane will undergo a bone marrow transplant - his second one in four and a half years. To show support and raise awareness of the Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) disease the young boy suffers from, his family has one simple request. They want everyone to wear Seth's favorite color yellow, and post pictures Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, with the hashtag #WearYellowForSeth....